Book signature feed



J. H. THORP Jan. 30, 1968 BOOK S IGNATURE FEED 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 5, 1965 INVENTOR. JA/VfJ 7/90/5 ww on u TTOR/VEYS.

1 953 J. H. THORP BOOK 5 IGNATURE FEED Filed June a, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,366,225 1300K SIGNATURE FEED James H. Thorp, West Hartford, Conn., assignor to The Smyth Manufacturing Company, Bloomfield, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Filed June 3, 1966, Ser. No. 555,199 Claims. (Cl. 198133) This invention relates to a mechanism for successively feeding book signatures in a back-up open leaf position to a book stitching machine or the like.

While not so limited, the mechanism of the present invention is particularly adapted for use with a book stitching machine of the type illustrated and described in United States patent to Bischof No. 1,485,905, issued Mar. 4, 1924. In such a machine signatures successively fed from a stationary saddle are received on an arm which swings inwardly and carries the folded edge of the signature to a position to be stitched to preceding signatures. Mechanisms for feeding machines of this type generally employ a stationary saddle which is aligned with a machine to be supplied with signatures and which is adapted to receive signatures successively deposited thereon in back-up open leaf position and to accurately guide the said signatures along a predetermined path into the machine. The outer signatures of a set of signatures to be fastened are generally provided with outer leaves of heavy stock. Each of the outer signatures in a set may also have a reinforcement or back strip extending along the folded edge thereof. This gives rise to a problem in that signatures tend to retain a tightly folded configuration after being deposited on a saddle thereby causing a more or less uncertain state of signature alignment with respect to the saddle. A signature which rides high on or askew the saddle is likely to be fed into the stitching machine in an improperly aligned condition so that the needles of the machine will tend to punch inaccurately, that is the needles will not pass upwardly through the centerfold of the signature, but rather off-set to one or the other side thereof.

The general object of the invention is to provide a mechanism for rapidly and accurately feeding successive signatures to a book stitching machine or the like in timed relation with the operation of the stitching machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide a feed mechanism of the aforedescribed character wherein successive signatures are accurately aligned for movement along a predetermined path to a machine to be fed.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and from the drawings forming a part thereof.

The drawings show a preferred embodiment of the invention and such embodiment will be described, but it will be understood that various changes may be made from the construction disclosed, and that the drawings and description are not to be construed as defining or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims forming a part of this specification being relied upon for that purpose.

Of the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a mechanism embodying the present invention and shows the position of successive signatures relative thereto.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged somewhat schematic side elevational view of the mechanism of FIG. 1 the saddle being shown with the front plate removed to reveal the operational mechanism therebelow.

FIG. 3 is a somewhat enlarged vertical sectional view taken generally along "the line 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a somewhat enlarged fragmentary vertical ice sectional view taken through the forming rolls of the mechanism of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a somewhat enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the line 5--5 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a somewhat schematic fragmentary side elevational view of the mechanism of FIG. 1 and shows the mechanism in combination with a book stitching machine.

Generally speaking, the mechanism of the present invention comprises a stationary saddle having angularly arranged portions and including a generally V-shaped apex portion adapted to be stationarily positioned in alignment with a machine to be supplied with signatures. The saddle is adapted to receive successive signatures deposited thereastraddle in open leaf position with the folded edge or back portions thereof in generally parallel alignment with the apex portion of the saddle. A means is provided for advancing each successive signature along a path relative to the saddle. The mechanism also includes a forming means which comprises at least one roll positioned in the path of signature advance for engaging the folded edge portion of each successive signature to cause the said edge portion to closely conform to the contour of the apex portion of the saddle and to thereby effect signature alignment with the saddle.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, a mechanism embodying the invention and indicated generally at 10 comprises a frame 12 which may be secured to a part of the machine to which the apparatus is to feed signatures or which may be independently mounted upon a base stationarily positioned with respect to the said machine (not shown). Mounted upon the frame 12 is a saddle 14 including generally rectangular longitudinally extending and angularly related front and rear plates 16 and 18 which are transversely spaced apart at their respective upper edges to form a longitudinally extending slot therebetween. The front plate 16 extends slightly above the rear plate 18 so that the upper edge of the front plate forms the apex 20 of the angle at which the plates are arranged.

It will be apparent from the description which follows that the saddle 14 may be variously positioned with respect to the machine to be fed, the position of the saddle being determined by the feed requirement of the machine. However, for convenience of description the mechanism is illustrated with the apex 20 at the top or facing upwardly and generally horizontally aligned for horizontal advancement of signatures to a book stitching machine such as schematically shown and generally indicated at 21 in FIG. 6.

The mechanism 10 also includes forming means indicated generally at 22 which comprises a first or upper roll 24 which is rotatable about a lateral axis upwardly spaced from the apex 20 and which has a generally V- shaped peripheral groove 26 therein. As viewed in an axial plane and as best shown in FIG. 4 the groove 26 has a cross-sectional configuration generally conforming with the cross-sectional configuration of the apex 20. The roll 24 is adapted to engage the outer surface of a signature 28, 28 as it advances forwardly or toward the left along the saddle as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2 to cause a folded edge portion 30 thereof to generally conform with the configuration of the apex 20. The signature is thereby caused to assume a position of substantial alignment with respect to the saddle 14.

The roll 24 is shown carried by a laterally extending shaft 30 journalled in a fixed position relative to the frame 12, however, means may be provided for vertically adjusting the upper roll 22 toward and away from the apex 20 to accommodate signatures of various thick- 3 nesses and such adjustable arrangement is contemplated within the scope of the invention.

The forming means 22 also includes a second or lower roll 32 which is transversely aligned with the upper roll 24 and which is rotatable about a movable lateral axis downwardly spaced from the apex and generally parallel to the upper roll axis. The lower roll 32 which is adapted to engage the inner surface of a signature at the folded edge portion thereof has a generally V- shaped peripheral surface portion 34 which projects upwardly through an opening 36 defined by the plates 16 and 18 and which is received within and generally complements the groove 26 in the upper roll 24.

Preferably the angle formed by the surfaces which define the peripheral groove 26 is slightly greater than the included angle between the surfaces which define the lower roll peripheral portion 34, as measured in an axial plane. Thus, the angle between the groove surfaces on the upper roll 24 indicated generally at A may, for example, be 70 whereas the angle B between the associated peripheral surfaces on the lower roll 32 may be 60 as shown in FIG. 4. This angular differential provides clearance between the peripheral surfaces of the two rolls and causes a linear surface speed differential between the respectively associated peripheral surfaces on the upper and lower rolls when the rolls are rotated at substantially the same speed thereby tending to exert a creasing action at the folded edge portion of a signature engaged thereby. Thus, the signature folded edge portion is caused to assume a temporary set closely conforming with the apex portion of the saddle 12.

To aid in effecting this creasing action it is preferable that one of the rolls be biased generally toward the other roll so that the rolls will cooperate to exert a pressure upon the folded edge portion of a signature engaged thereby. In the illustrated mechanism 10 the lower roll 32 is biased generally toward the upper roll 24.

Support for the lower roll is provided by a generally L-shaped member 38 which is fastened to the frame 12 and which includes an upwardly extending rear leg 40. An arm 42 which is pivotally connected to the upper end of the leg by a laterally extending pivot pin 44 extends forwardly therefrom and carries a generally horizontally and laterally extending shaft 46 at its forward end upon which shaft the lower roll 32 is journalled. Biasing means is provided by a compression spring 48 received between the member 36 and the arm 42 forwardly of the pivot pin 44 for urging the lower roll toward engagement with the upper roll.

Preferably either or both of the forming rolls are driven in timed relation with a machine to be fed. In the mechanism 10 the upper roll 24 is driven in a clockwise direction by interconnected drive chains 48 and 50 which are in turn driven from a laterally extending drive shaft 52 drivingly connected to a longitudinally extending main drive shaft 54 through a set of bevel gears indicated generally at 56, as shown in FIG. 1. Idler sprockets 58 and 60 are provided for respectively tensioning the drive chains 48 and 50. The main drive shaft 54 may be a part of the mechanism 10 and may be driven by a motor. Preferably, however, the shaft 54 comprises a main cam shaft on an associated stitching machine to be fed.

Various means may be provided for advancing th signatures relative to the saddle 14. In the presently preferred embodiment of the invention the advancing means comprises a pusher mechanism of the type illustrated and described in the US. patent to Clark and Schramm No. 1,774,170, Aug 26, 1930. The pusher mechanism includes a first pusher 62 which is located to the rear of the forming rolls 22 and which is adapted to push a signature forwardly along the saddle and into engagement with the forming rolls.

It should be evident that the forming rolls 22 act to advance a signature and may also serve to move a signature into the machine to be fed, however, preferably the pusher mechanism includes a second pusher 62 which is located forwardly of the forming rolls for engaging a signature forwardly thereof and for advancing the signature to the said machine.

Each pusher 62 is arranged for longitudinal reciprocation relative to the saddle in the space or slot between the plates 16 and 18 at the apex thereof and is further arranged to be raised above the top of the saddle before starting to push a signature forwardly therealong and then to be lowered and returned below the top of the saddle so as to pass beneath the next successive signature on the saddle.

Preferably each pusher 62 is formed from a thin plate which includes a forwardly extending finger portion 64 and is connected to an associated slide 66 for pivotal movement about a lateral axis 68. Each pusher is preferably adjustably and detachably connected to its associated slide in a manner (not shown) so that the pusher may be forwardly or rearwardly adjusted relative to the slide to accommodate signatures of various sizes and so that the pusher will disconnect or disengage from the slide should any obstruction be offered to the forward movement thereof as by a jamming of a signature. For details relative to the connection between the pusher and the slide for a further detailed disclosure of a pusher mechanism of this general type reference may be had to the aforementioned patent to Clark et al.

Each slide 66 is mounted to reciprocate on a generally cylindrical rod 70 that extends longitudinally beneath the front plate 16 and which is supported at its ends by brackets 72 and 74 which are fastened in a fixed position relative to the frame 12.

Each slide in its travel is guided and prevented from turning by the surface of a plate 76 which is fastened to the frame 12 and best shown in FIG. 5. Simultaneous reciprocable movement of the slides 66, 66 is effected by an elongated generally longitudinally extending rod 78 which provides connection therebetween. A rod 80 which is pivotally connected to the forward slide 66 extends forwardly therefrom to connect with a bell crank 82 which is secured for pivotal movement about a lateral axis 84 fixed relative to the frame 12. Driving connection between the bell crank 82 and the main drive shaft 54 is provided by a link 86 which carries a cam engaging roller 88 which in turn engages a cylindrical cam 90 carried by the shaft 54. Thus, the pushers 62, 62 are caused to reciprocate at proper intervals in timed relationship with the machine to be fed.

A stud 92 extends rearwardly from each pusher 62 and is received within a longitudinally extending groove or track 94 formed within an associated plate 96 which is mounted to reciprocate both longitudinally and vertically relative to the frame 12. Each plate 96 is located generally beneath the rear saddle plate 18 and has two cam grooves 98, 98 lying in which are follower rollers 100, 100 which are mounted on plates 102, 102 which are in turn fastened to the frame 12. The cammed grooves are so shaped that when the plate 96 is moved forwardly it is also caused to move upwardly and when it is moved rearwardly it is also caused to move downwardly. Thus, each stud 92 which rides in a track 94 causes an associated pusher 62 to move upwardly to its upper or solid line position in FIG. 2 as the plate 96 moves forwardly and downwardly to its lower or broken line position of FIG. 2 as the plate moves rearwardly. The forward and rearward movement of the plates 96, 96 is effected by a bell crank lever 104 which is pivotally connected to the frame 12 and which engages the forward plate 96.

Simultaneous oscillatory motion is imparted to the rear plate 96 by a lever 106 interconnected with the lever 104 by an elongated longitudinally extending rod 108.

The bell crank lever 104 is drivingly connected to the main drive shaft 54 by a link 110 which carries a follower roller 112 which in turn engages a cylinder cam 114 carried by the shaft 54 to oscillate the plates 96, 96

in timed relation with other parts of the mechanism and with the machine to be fed.

When each pusher 62 is retracted to its rearward or starting position, it is lifted by the forward or upward movement of an associated plate 96 so as to project above the apex 20. Each pusher moves to its upper position and advances for some distance along the saddle to push a signature therealong. Shortly after the pushers reverse direction or begin to move rearwardly the plates 96, 96 move forwardly and downwardly causing each pusher to move to a position below the apex of the saddle in which position it remains until reaching its starting position. Thereafter the rear pusher 62 is again raised to its upper position to engage the next successive signature deposited on the saddle and the forward pusher is similarly raised to engage the next successive signature forwardly of the forming rolls.

Thus, the mechanism of the present invention provides means for accurately aligning successive signatures and for rapidly and accurately moving the said signatures along a predetermined path to a machine to be fed.

The invention claimed is:

1. In combination with a book stitching machine an improved mechanism for feeding book signatures to the machine, said mechanism comprising an elongated saddle including angularly arranged portions in a generally V-shape with an upwardly facing apex and having an opening therethrough at said apex, said saddle being adapted to receive and support a signature in a back-up open leaf position thereon with the folded back portion thereof longitudinally aligned with said apex, a set of forming and advancing rolls including a first roll rotatable about a lateral axis spaced upwardly from said apex and including a generally V-shaped peripheral groove generally complementing the configuration of said apex, said set of rolls including a second roll rotatable about a lateral axis spaced downwardly from said apex and having a generally V-shaped peripheral portion projecting upwardly through said saddle opening and disposed in the generally complementing said first roll groove, said second roll having an apex at its V-shaped peripheral portion substantially in longitudinal alignment with said saddle apex, one of the said rolls being constantly biased toward engagement with the other of the said rolls to crease said signature before it reaches said stitching machine and at least one of said rolls being driven, and a pusher apparatus including a first finger located rearwardly of said rolls and movable forwardly and generally along said apex for engaging and advancing a signature along said saddle and into engagement with said set of rolls so as to be further advanced by the latter, said pusher apparatus including a second finger located forwardly of said rolls and movable forwardly and generally along said apex for engaging a signature advanced by said rolls and for further advancing it forwardly along said saddle to said stitching machine.

2. A mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein said saddle is formed by two angularly arranged plates spaced apart at their upper edges to form a slot, one of the said plates having an upper edge forming said apex, each said finger being upwardly projectable through said slot and movable forwardly and generally adjacent the apex forming edge of said one plate.

3. A mechanism as set forth in claim 2 wherein said pusher apparatus includes means for raising said first and second fingers above said apex portion and moving said fingers forward and for lowering said fingers below said apex portion and moving said fingers rearward.

4. A mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein said pusher apparatus and said one roll are operatively connected to a common drive means on said book stitching machine.

5. A mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein the angle formed by the surfaces defining said groove in said first roll is slightly greater than the included angle between the surface defining said V-shaped peripheral portion of said second roll as measured in an axial plane.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,180,725 4/1916 Kast 198-221 1,399,555 12/1921 Heitshu 198221 X 1,437,410 12/1922 Evans et al. 1,774,170 8/1930 Clark et al. 11221 1,968,415 7/1934 Metcalf 198133 2,917,168 12/1959 Faeber 198-133 X FOREIGN PATENTS 14,037 1910 Denmark.

1,370,729 7/ 1964 France.

169,719 9/ 1934 Switzerland.

RICHARD E. AEGERTER, Primary Examiner.

EVON C. BLUNK, Examiner.

M. L. AJEMAN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A BOOK STITCHING MACHINE AN IMPROVED MECHANISM FOR FEEDING BOOK SIGNATURES TO THE MACHINE, SAID MECHANISM COMPRISING AN ELONGATED SADDLE INCLUDING ANGULARLY ARRANGED PORTIONS IN A GENERALLY V-SHAPE WITH AN UPWARDLY FACING APEX AND HAVING AN OPENING THERETHROUGH AT SAID APEX, SAID SADDLE BEING ADAPTED TO RECEIVE AND SUPPORT A SIGNATURE IN A BACK-UP OPEN LEAF POSITION THEREON WITH THE FOLDED BACK PORTION THEREOF LONGITUDINALLY ALIGNED WITH SAID APEX, A SET OF FORMING AND ADVANCING ROLLS INCLUDING A FIRST ROLL ROTATABLE ABOUT A LATERAL AXIS SPACED UPWARDLY FROM SAID APEX AND INCLUDING A GENERALLY V-SHAPED PERIPHERAL GROOVE GENERALLY COMPLEMENTING THE CONFIGURATION OF SAID APEX, SAID SET OF ROLLS INCLUDING A SECOND ROLL ROTATABLE ABOUT A LATERAL AXIS SPACED DOWNWARDLY FROM SAID APEX AND HAVING A GENERALLY V-SHAPED PERIPHERAL PORTION PROJECTING UPWARDLY THROUGH SAID SADDLE OPENING AND DISPOSED IN THE GENERALLY COMPLEMENTING SAID FIRST ROLL GROOVE, SAID SECONE ROLL HAVING AN APEX AT ITS V-SHAPED PERIPHERAL PORTION SUBSTANTIALLY IN LONGITUDINAL ALIGNMENT WITH SAID SADDLE APEX, ONE OF THE SAID ROLLS BEING CONSTANTLY BIASED TOWARD ENGAGEMENT WITH THE OTHER OF THE SAID ROLLS TO CREASE SAID SIGNATURE BEFORE IT REACHES SAID STITCHING MACHINE AND AT LEAST ONE OF SAID ROLLS BEING DRIVEN, AND A PUSHER APPARATUS INCLUDING A FIRST FINGER LOCATED REARWARDLY OF SAID ROLLS AND MOVABLE FORWARDLY AND GENERALLY ALONG SAID APEX FOR ENGAGING AND ADVANCING A SIGNATURE ALONG SAID SADDLE AND INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID SET OF ROLLS SO AS TO BE FURTHER ADVANCED BY THE LATTER, SAID PUSHER APPARATUS INCLUDING A SECOND FINGER LOCATED FORWARDLY OF SAID ROLLS AND MOVABLE FORWARDLY AND GENERALLY ALONG SAID APEX FOR ENGAGING A SIGNATURE ADVANCED BY SAID ROLLS AND FOR FURTHER ADVANCING IT FORWARDLY ALONG SAID SADDLE TO SAID STITCHING MACHINE. 